€8,000 was raised this morning during the 19th edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim in aid of The Malta Community Chest Fund. The amount collected was made up of €5700 from swimmer’s family and friends while Thomas Smith topped up and rounded up the amount to €8000. Ever since its inception, the Group, together with the swimmers’ donations have collected just over €110,000.

This morning, just over 200 swimmers of all ages braved the wind and cold winter sea in Sliema to raise funds for charitable causes. 52 females and 154 male swimmers took part in this year’s charity swim.

In a brief address to the swimmers before they jumped into the cold sea, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca thanked everyone for their support to the Malta Community Chest Fund. She commended Thomas Smith Group for organising the Charity Swim on an annual basis and thanked the Company for contributing towards the final amount donated. The President presented medals to all the 206 participating swimmers after they completed the swim.

The swimmers varied in age: Eva Testa Bickle, 3 years old was the youngest registered participant, following in her sister’s footsteps also named the youngest swimmer in 2014, at 3 years old. The youngest male swimmer was Benjamin Alamango, 6 years old, while Mr. Wilfred Pirotta, 81 and Marlene Attard, 74 were the oldest registered male and female swimmers.

Joe Gerada, together with Liana Cachia, Group HR & Marketing Manager, and organiser of the Thomas Smith Christmas Charity Swim, will present the cheque to H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca at San Anton Palace on Thursday 21st December.

Held every year since 1999 under the patronage of the President of the Republic, this year marks the nineteenth edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim. The swim is held every year under the patronage of the Office of the President.

Thomas Smith is a group of companies offering a diversified portfolio of services in shipping, logistics, and insurance. With operations in Malta, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia, Thomas Smith Group leverages Malta’s strategic location to provide a host of professional and logistics services for individuals, SME’s and industry.